Rotatively oscillatable hair clipper



Feb. 20, 1940. F, FlsHBElN TAL 2,191,073

ROTATIVELY OSCILLATABLE HAIR CLIPPER Filed Jan. l5, 1958 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Fred Fishbein and Jesse Barr, Newark, N. J., as-

signors to Herman Cohen, Newark, N. J.

Application January 15, 1938, Serial No. 185,142

Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to a novel construction of rotatively oscillatable cutting mechanism for clipping hair; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel clip- 5 per device having circular cutting mechanism of sufficiently small diameter to permit insertion and operation thereof within small cavities, such e. g. as nostril or ear cavities from which it is desired to cut away and remove hair growth.

This invention has for an object to provide a novel clipper device for the purposes mentioned, comprising an outer hollow tapered or conical cutter means and an inner tapered or conical cutter means telescopically tted together and arranged for rotative oscillatory relative movement about a common longitudinal axis, said cutter means having cooperative circumferentially spaced shear blades; a novel arrangement of spring means being also provided for exerting, by spring compression, axial thrust upon said cutting means adapted to maintain the shear blades thereof in constant close contact for both eflicient cutting and `for self-sharpening effects, while, at the same time, also exerting upon said cutter means a torsional tension in cooperation with means for manually inducing operative rotative oscillatory movement of the inner cutter means relative to the outer cutter means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, non-binding and easily manipulated means for producing relative rotary movements of said inner and outer cutter means.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is .a side elevation of the novel clipper device made according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a top end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a bottom end elevation of the same; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken on line 4--4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the novel clipper device, taken on line 5--5 in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is another transverse section, taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is also a transverse section, taken on line 'I--l in Fig. 4.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character I0 indicates a casing member. Preferably this casing membemi'or a portion of its length at least, is of rectangular external cross-sectional shape, but is provided with an axial bore II which is preferably of circular cross-section. V Intermediate its ends, said casing member is provided with an internal annular shoulder or rib adapted to provide an internal lower bearing I2 for purposes hereinafter described.

The outer cutter means of the device comprises a cutter head I3 which is provided at its lower end with a shank portion I4 for insertion into the upper end of the bore II of said casing member I0, and so as to be secured in xed relation to the latter either frictionally or by any suitable mechanical fastening means. Preferably said outer cutter head is provided with an external annular iiange or bead I5 to abut the upper end of said casing member I0 when aixed thereto. Said outer cutter head I3 is provided with an external tapered or conical free end portion I 6, and an internal tapered or conical seat portion I'I substantially coextensivetherewith. Extending downwardly from said internal tapered or conical seat portion I1 and axially through outer cutter head I3 is a cylindrical bore which provides an upper bearing I8 for purposes hereinafter described. Said conical free end portion I 6 of said outer cutter head I3 is provided with a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced slots I9 which extend downwardly thereinto from its upper end for a portion of its length, thereby dividing the same into a plurality of circumferentially spaced outer shear blades 20.

'Ihe inner cutter means of the device comprises a cylindrical body member 2I axially disposed within the casing member III so as to be rotatably journaled, at one point, by the lower bearing I2 formed in connection with said casing member, and, at another point, lby the upper bearing I8 provided by the bore oi said outer cutter head I3. At its upper end, said body member 2| is provided with a conical inner cutter head 22 shaped to engagingly iit and conform to the internal tapered or conical seat portion I1 of said, outer cutter head I3. Formed in the outer end of said conical inner cutter head 22 is a cavity 23 thus forming an annular cutter portion 24. This cutter portion 24 is provided with a plurality of radially extending ciroumferentially spaced slots 25 which extend downwardly thereinto from its upper end for a portion of its length, thereby dividing the same into a plurality of circumferentially spaced inner shear blades26 corresponding in number to the number of outer shear blades 20 with which the outer cutter head I3 is provided. The bottoms of the -slots I9 of the outer cutter head I3 and the bottom of the slots 25 of the inner cutter head 22 are located intermediate the free ends and the bases of the conical formations constituting heads, and preferably said slot bottoms incline inwardly and upwardly, as shown in Fig. 4. This is of importance, for it is found that should these slots intersect the plane of the bases of said conical formations, there is a tendency for the hairs to lie so deeply in the heads that short cutting thereof is not attained, but also some tendency to unpleasant pull upon the hairs is likely during the cutting operation.

In assembling the inner cutter means with the casing member I0 and the cuter cutter head I3, the body member 2| is inserted upwardly through the lower open end of the casing member bore I I, thus rotatably mounting said body member 2l in journaled relation to the bearings I2 and I8. The lower end of said body member 2| is provided with a downwardly open transverse seating slot 2'I to receive the upper terminal portion 28 of a spiral spring 29. Adapted for insertion inthe lower open endA of said casing member I0 is a plug 30 having an inwardly and upwardly projecting boss 3|. This boss 3| is provided with an upwardly open transverse seating slot 32 to receive the lower terminal portion 33 of said spiral spring 29. Suitably affixed to said body member 2| to project laterally from the side thereof in proper location is a stop projection 34. The lower inner extremity of the shank portion I4 of said outer cutter head I3 is cut away to provide a stop shoulder 35 normally engageable by said stop projection 34. The lower bearing I2 is provided with a vertical channel or passageway 36 to permit the stop projection 34 to pass the same, when the body member 2| is inserted into operative assembled relation to the casing member I8 and outer cutter head I3. When the spiral spring 29 is engaged between the body member 2| and said plug 30, the latter is turned about its vertical axis in an anti-clockwise direction to place the spring under a torsional tension, whereupon said vplug 30 is driven into and frictionally aiiixed in the lower end of the casing member bore II, thereby also placing the spring under axial compression. The torsional tension of the spiral spring 29 will rotate the body member 2| in an anti-clockwise direction until its stop projection 34 abuts the stop shoulder 35 of the outer cutter head shank portion I4, in which position the shear blades and slots of the inner cutter head 22 will register in alignment with the shear blades and slots of the outer cutter head, as shown in Fig. 1 more especially. At the same time the axial compression of the spiral spring 29 will exert an upward axial thrust upon the body member 2|, whereby the inner cutter head 22 will be maintained in close tting engagement with the internal or conical seat portion I1 of the outer cutter head I3, thus not only maintaining the shear blades in operative contact, but also so as to take up any wear thereof, and so that the same, in operation, cooperate with self-sharpening effect.

The means for imparting relative rotary movement to the cutter heads, comprises a rack and pinion mechanism provided by gear teeth 31, with which the body member 2| of the inner cutter means is provided at a point intermediate the lower and upper bearings I2 and I8, and by a transversely movable rack member 38 which operatively engages said gear teeth. The rack member 38 is slidably supported in a way 39 provided in the casing member III, and opening from a side thereof to permit an end of said rack member to project exteriorly therefrom. If desired, to further support the rack member 38 for proper longitudinal movement, the same may be provided with a longitudinal opening or passage 40 to slidingly engage a guide-rod or pin 4I suitably aixed to the opposite wall of said casing member I0. The means for actuating said rack-member 38 comprises a slide-yoke 42 the arms 43 of which externally straddle opposite sides of said casing member I0, the same being slidably supported in guideways 441 with which the -said sides of the casing member are provided. Also formed in said casing member sides, adjacent to the upper margin ofthe guideway 44 of one side and adjacent to the lower margin of the guideway 44 of the other side. are guide channels 45 in which ride stop-ears 46. Said stop ears 46, by abutment against the inner ends of said guide channels 45, serve to limit the outward movement of said slide-yoke 42. The torsional tension of the spiral spring 29, as' exerted upon the body member 2| of the inner cutter means, to rotate the latter anti-clockwise, is transmitted through gear teeth 31 to said rack member 38 to normally project the same to outwardly moved position, and thereby likewise moves said slide-yoke 42 to correspondingly outwardly moved position.

In the use of the clipper device, constructed as above described, the operator applies the same to the selected cavity from which hair is desired to be removed, so that hairs will enter the slots of the cutter heads and will thus lie between normally aligned shear blades. The operator thereupon presses inwardly upon the slide yoke 42, thereby sliding inwardly the rack member 38, so that the movement thereof induces a rotary movement of said body member 2| and its inner cutter head 22 in a clockwise direction. This slots therebetween. By releasing the slide-yoke 42 from inwardly moving pressure, the torsional tension of the spiral spring 29 will reverse the rotation of the body member 2| and inner cutter head 22. so that all parts are returned to normal initial positions. repeated as necessary, until severing of the hairs desired to be removed is entirely accomplished` Owing to the support of the body member 2| of the inner cutting means by the spaced bearings I2 and I8, and the application of rotating force through the operation of the rack and pinion means at a point of said body member intermediate said bearing points, a very smooth and easy operation oi' the device is assured, with a` I -ative relation.

The rack and pinion actuating means also assures a considerable amplitude of relative rotary movement between the outer and inner cutter heads, so that given teeth of the latter will traversingly pass a multiple oi' teeth of the These operations may be former, thus 'assuring'every opportunity for hairs 75 tatively stopped relation of said inner cuttery to be engaged and cut, and consequently affordintended purDOses.

'I'he disposition of the guide channels 45 as described also aids in maintaining alignment of the actuating slide-yoke 'I2 throughout its movements, without tendency to twist or cant out of position with consequent likelihood of impeding smooth, easy and eilicient action thereof.

It will be understood that many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof; it is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing sh'all be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A device of the kind described comprising, a casing member, a hollow outer conical cutter means affixed to the upper end of said casing Y member and having an internal conical bearing surface at the inner faces of the cutter elements thereof, an inner cutter means cooperative with said outer cutter means and having an external conical bearing surface to engage the internal bearing surface of said outer cutter means, spring means to exert both torsional and axial thrust effects upon said inner' cutter means, whereby the axial thrust maintains the cooperating conical bearing surfaces of the inner and outer cutter means in contact with self sharpening effect upon their cutter elements, means to anchor one end ofsaid spring means in connection with said casing member, means to couple the other end of said spring means to said inner cutter means, means to determine a normal rotatively stopped relation of said inner cutter means relative to said outer cutter means to align their cutter elements and intervening spaces, and means to produce relative rotary cutting movements of4 said cutter means.

2. A device of the kind described comprising, a casing member, a hollow outer conical cutter means amxed to the upper end of said casing member and having an internal conical bearing surface at the inner faces of the cutter elements thereof, an inner cutter means cooperative with said outer cutter means and having an external conical bearing surface to engage the internal bearing surface of said outer cutter means, spring means to exert both torsional and axial thrust effects upon saidv inner cutter means, whereby the axial thrust maintains the cooperating conical bearing surfaces of the inner and outer cutter means in contact with self sharpening effect upon their cutter elements, means to anchor one end of said spring means in connection with said casing member, means to couple the other end of said spring means to said inner cutter means, means to determine a normal romeans relative to said outer cutter means to align their cutter elements and intervening spaces, and means to produce relative rotary cutting movements of said cutter means, said latter means comprising a rack and pinion means for rotating said inner cutter means, and means carried by said casing member and operative upon the exterior end of the rack element of said rack and pinion means for actuating the same.

3,. A device of the kind described comprising, a casing member, a hollow outer conical cutter means affixed to the upper end of said casing member and having an internal conical bearing surface at the inner faces of the cutter elements thereof, an inner cutter means cooperative' with said outer cutter means and having an external `conical surface to engagethe internal bearing surface of said outer cutter means, said inner cutter means having a cylindrical body portion, spring means to exert both torsional and axial thrust effects upon lsaid inner cutter means, whereby the axial thrust maintainsthe cooperating conical bearing surfaces of the inner and outer cutter means in contact with self sharpening effect upon their cutter elements, means to anchor one `end of said spring means in connection with said casing member, means to couple the other end of said spring means to said inner cutter means, meanstodetermineanormal rotatively stopped relation of saidinnercutter means relative to said outer cutter means to align their cutter elements and intervening spaces; f

axially `spaced bearing portions to journal the cylindrical body of said inner cutter means, and means to produce relative rotary cutting movements of said cutter means, Vsaid latter means comprising a pinion on the inner cutter means located between said spaced bearing portions, a

rack movable transversely through said casing member and meshing with said pinion, a slide yoke means exteriorly embracing said casing member in transverse relation thereto and operative upon the exterior end of said rack for actuating the same, and said casing member and slide yoke means having cooperative stop means for determining the normal outwardly projected initial position of said slide yoke means.

4. A device of the kind described comprising, a casing member, a hollow outer conical cutter head affixed to the upper end of said casing, said outer cutter head having aninternal conical seat portion, said outer cutter head having circumferentially spaced shear blades formed at and around its free end portion, a conical inner cutter head to engagingly fit and conform to the internal conical seat portion of said outer cutter head, said inner cutter head having circumferentially spaced shear blades formed at and around its free end portion, said inner cutter head having an axially extending cylindrical body member, spaced bearing means connected with said outer cutter head and said casing member to support said body member, spring means to exert both torsional and axial thrust effects upon said body member and inner cutter head, whereby the axial thrust maintains the inner conical cutter head engaged with the internal conical seat of the outer head with selfsharpening eilect upon their shear blades, means to anchor one end of said spring means in connection with said casing member, means to couple the other end of said spring means to said inner cutter head body member, means to determine a normal rotatively stopped relation of said inner cutter head relative to said outer cutter head wherein the cutter blades of said heads are initially disposed in radially aligned relation, and means to produce rotary movement of said inner cutter head and its shear blades relative to said outer cutter head and its shear blades.

5. A device of the kind described comprising, a casing member, a hollow outer conical cutter head aiiixed to the upper end of said casing, said outer cutterhead having an internal conical seat head, said inner cutter head having circumferentially' spaced shear blades formed at and around its tree end portion, said inner cutter head having an axially extending cylindrical body member, spaced bearing means connected with said outer cutter head and said casing member to rotatively journal said body member,

spring means to exert both torsional and axial thrust effects upon said body member and inner cutter head, whereby the axial thrust maintains the inner conical cutter head engaged withtheinternal conical seat of the outer head with self sharpening effect upon their shear blades, means to anchor one end of said spring meansin connection with said casing member, meansto couple the other end of said spring means tosaid. inner cutter head body member, means to determine a normal rotatvely stopped relation of said inner cutter head relative to said outer cutter head wherein the cutter blades of said heads anchovav s 'are initially disposed in radially aligned relation, and means to produce rotary movement ot said inner cutter head and its shear blades relative to said outer cutter head and its shear blades, said latter means comprising gear means 'on said innerv cutter head body member at a point intermediate said journaling bearings thereof, a rack means transversely slidable relative to said casing member and adapted to engagev said gear means, a slide yoke means exteriorly embracing said casing member in transverse relation thereto and operative upon the exterior end of said rack means for actuating the same, and said casing member and slide yoke means having cooperative stop means for determining the normal outwardly projected initial position of said slide yoke means.

- FRED FISHBEIN.

JESSE HARR. 

